Bennion finishes fourth

• Image

John M. Steiner / The Sun Jamestown High School freshman Sierra Bennion chips onto the green during the second and final round of the Class A state golf tournament on Tuesday at Prairie West Golf Course in Mandan.

Talk about it

Sierra Bennion’s putting didn’t come through the way she had hoped at the Class A state golf meet.

Still, the Jamestown High School standout freshman showed her ability by tying for fourth place overall Tuesday at Prairie West Golf Course in Mandan.

“I putted better (Monday), which is sad because I didn’t putt well (Monday),” Bennion said.

Bennion fired an 81 a day after carding a 79, which was good enough to tie for second. She played in the top group that included Fargo North’s Annie Twells and Fargo Davies’ Kathleen Marsh on Tuesday.

“It was pretty fun playing with the top girls,” said Bennion, who picked up her second all-state nod. “They were pretty nice.”

Twells fought off a fierce rally from Dickinson’s Rachel Jahner to win medalist honors. She finished with a 78 the second day for a two-day total of 155. She beat Jahner in a three-hole playoff for the state title, after the latter shocked the field with a 72, four strokes better than any round in the tournament.

Marsh took third, while Williston’s Kayla Barke tied Bennion for fourth. Marsh also paced Fargo Davies to the team title with a 650, 24 strokes better than runner-up Bismarck Century. Davies had all four of its scorers finish in the top 12.

Bennion said her biggest trouble came on the par 4 No. 18, where she took a double bogey on the final hole of the tournament.

“That just wasn’t very good,” she said. “My drive was off to the left, but I wasn’t in a bad position. The second shot, I hooked it. I couldn’t have had a worse lie. It was right on the lip of a sand shot. The next shot was just right off the green, then I three-putted.”

Nonetheless, Bennion said she got the experience she needs for the future.

“It was a good experience, just so I could get use to (playing with the top group),” she said. “I guess it’s not bad. I can’t be mad. I was just kind of hoping to do better, but that’s OK.”

Jamestown’s 782 was good for ninth out of 12 teams, eight strokes behind Wahpeton.

Maria LeFevre tied for 25th with a 90 on the second day and a two-day total of 187. Sarah Azure was 61st, posting a 216 with a 106 the first day, while Kaitlin Mullowney shot a 222 including a 108 on Monday. Savannah Kramlich was steady at 68th, shooting a 223 with a second-round 111, and Mara LeFevre rounded out the pack with a 256 including a 127 on the second day.

With no seniors on the roster and every girl a freshman or younger except for Maria LeFevre — who is a junior — the Jays could have the makings of a team capable of doing some damage in the West Region next year.

“We had a great time,” Bennion said. “It was really awesome, actually. I hope the team makes it again next year.”

Class A state meet

At Prairie West Golf Course, Mandan

Final

Team scores

1. Fargo Davies 650. 2. Century 674. 3. Fargo North 700. 4. Dickinson 7143. 5. Grand Forks Red River 756. 6.West Fargo 760. 7. Minot 764. 8. Wahpeton 774. 9. Jamestown 782. 10. Mandan 801. 11. Fargo Shanley 804. 12.Grand Forks Central 854.

Individual top five

1. Annie Twells, FN, 77-78 — 155. 2.Rachel Jahner, D, 83-72 — 155. 3. Kathleen Marsh, FD, 79-77 — 156. 4. (tie) Kayla Barke, Williston, 81-79 — 160, and Sierra Bennion, J, 79-81 — 160.

Note: Twells defeated Jahner in three-hole playoff.

By team

Fargo Davies (650): Kathleen Marsh 156, Jennifer Marsh 161, Allyson Meyer 165, Alex Woken 169. Bailey Gemar 175, Amber Kosir 214.

Century (674): Alex Leidholm 163, Annie Nelson 163, Alex Hopkins 175, Bri Flynn 182. Lauren Bischof 186, Lindsay Reede 188.

Fargo North (700): Annie Twells 155, Addie Long 170, Hanna Berg 187, Kenzie Jenson 188, Keely Spiess 198, Abby Sklebar 204.

Dickinson (714): Rachel Jahner 155, Riana Cooper 173, Rachel Lantz 183, Sydney Charchenko 203, Katherine Kessel 213, Kelsey Yon 241.

G.F. Red River (756): Cali Halverson 176, Alexis Caoili 183, Casey DeBeltz 198, Betsy Seaver 203, Hilary Whalen 210, Morgan Hetletved 212.

West Fargo (760): Ashley Bixby 162, Kennedy Kraft 196, Ashley Peterson 200, Brittany Rheault 202, Sierra Peterson 210, McCall Brown 220.

Minot (764): Haili Duchscherer 168, Paige Argent 197, Makensy Arlien 198, McKinley Bender 201, Hallie Williamson 217, Evie Reynolds 218.

Wahpeton (774): Savannah Haselhorst 174, Kelsey Darwin 200, Leslie Hibl 203, Morgan Strand 203, Emma Rubish 211, Kelsey Breuer 254.

Jamestown (782): Sierra Bennion 160, Maria LeFevre 187, Sarah Azure 216, Kaitlin Mullowney 222, Savannah Kramlich 223, Mara LeFevre 256.

Mandan (801): Sydnie Mongeon 186, Kayla Helbling 191, Megan Broeckel 213, Brianne Hirchert 213, Devon Comeau 218, KayCee Schulz 234.

Fargo Shanley (804): Marcela Hanson 197, Payton Thimjon 201, Abby Armstrong 202, Aly Corbid 210, Katey Wold 213, Grace Dietz 230.

G.F. Central (854): Kaylin Anderson 208, Samantha Marshall 212, Alizjah Swenson 215, Shaylee Ferguson 219, Jordan Reiter 226, Jessica Fairley 232.

Individual qualifiers

Kayla Barke, Williston, 160. Emily Grothman, Fargo South, 186. Katie Kasper, Bismarck, 187.

Sun sports writer Chris Aarhus can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at caarhus@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jays, golf